Chichester

Chichester's population grew in the 10 years leading up to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, housing tenure and marriage.

The population passed 110,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Chichester increased by 6.9%, from about 106,000 to 114,000.

The addition of about 7,300 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Chichester was home to, on average, 1 person per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the South East's least densely-populated district.

Population density was lower than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Chichester

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Chichester increased by two years, from 44 to 46 years.

This agricultural area had a higher average age than the South East and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 3,600 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 2,000.

About 14% of people in Chichester are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Chichester by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Chichester

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 27% said they had no religion. An increase from 15% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Chichester.

Across the South East, the percentage of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from 18% to 30%, while across England the percentage went from 16% to 27%.

Around 72% of those who disclosed their religion in Chichester said they were Christian, down from 83% in 2001. About 0.0% said they were Sikh, up from 0.0% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation rose from 7.8% to 8.3% between the last two censuses.

In Chichester, 8.3% chose not to disclose their religious affiliation. In South East the percentage was 8.0% and across England the percentage was 7.8%.

The population without a religion in Chichester increased by 10 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Chichester by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Chichester

The percentage of Chichester residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 7.6% to 7.8% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.1%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.4% in 2001. The percentage of Chichester residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90% to 89%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 6.8% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Chichester, but at a slower rate than across the South East.

In Chichester, the proportion of private renting increased from 11% in 2001 to 15% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 10% to 16%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in Chichester remained close to 15%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 70% to 67%.

Private renting in Chichester increased by 3.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Chichester, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Relationships in Chichester

The percentage of married people fell in Chichester at a faster rate than in Waverley (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Chichester).

In Chichester, the proportion of married people decreased from 56% in 2001 to 52% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Waverley decreased from 56% to 55%.

Across the South East, the share of married people decreased from 53% to 49%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in Chichester increased from 24% to 27%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 9.9% to 12%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Chichester residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.2% to 4.3% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 70% in 2001. The percentage of Chichester residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 13%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Chichester decreased by 2.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Chichester, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people living alone

The percentage of households in Chichester, which comprised one person, increased from 30% to 32% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 13 (7.8%) households had an unmarried couple, compared with 6.6% in 2001. The percentage of households in Chichester which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 37% to 34%.

The proportion of one-person households increased faster here than the figure for the whole of the South East (which remained close to 29%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 30%.

The percentage of households with only one person was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Chichester

In 2011, 97% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. An increase from 98% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Chichester.

Across the South East, the percentage of residents from the White ethnic groups fell from 95% to 91%, while across England the percentage went from 91% to 85%.

Around 1.4% of people in Chichester said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from 0.6% in 2001. About 1.0% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from 0.6% 10 years prior.

The percentage of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups rose from 0.2% to 0.5% between the last two censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Chichester decreased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Chichester by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Chichester working less than 16 hours increased from 2.4% to 3.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over one in eight (13%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 16% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.1% in 2001 to 3.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Chichester increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Chichester, the South East and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Chichester with children decreased from 25% to 24% between the last two censuses.

The percentage that had no children remained close to 68%, while the percentage of households in Chichester with only adult children living with their parents increased from 7.8% to 8.1%.

The proportion of households with children fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (which remained close to 29%). Across England, the percentage increased from 30% to 29%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Chichester residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.8% to 1.1% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.6%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 0.8% in 2001 to 1.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Chichester remained close to 1.1%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Chichester by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in work life

The percentage of Chichester residents that were employed remained close to 48% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were unemployed, compared with 1.9% in 2001. While the percentage of Chichester residents that were self-employed increased from 13% to 15%.

The proportion of employed people increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 55% in 2001 to 54% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 53% to 52%.

The rate of employment was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

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